Edmond, Karen, Hurt, Lisa ![]() ![]() |
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Abstract
Objectives To assess the effect of vitamin A supplementation in women of reproductive age in Ghana on cause- and age-specific infant mortality. In addition, because of recently published studies from Guinea Bissau, effects on infant mortality by sex and season were assessed. Design Double-blind, cluster-randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Setting 7 contiguous districts in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Participants All women of reproductive age (15–45 years) resident in the study area randomised by cluster of residence. All live born infants from 1 June 2003 to 30 September 2008 followed up through 4-weekly home visits. Intervention Weekly low-dose (25 000 IU) vitamin A. Main outcome measures Early infant mortality (1–5 months); late infant mortality (6–11 months); infection-specific infant mortality (0–11 months). Results 1086 clusters, 62 662 live births, 52 574 infant-years and 3268 deaths yielded HRs (95% CIs) comparing weekly vitamin A with placebo: 1.04 (0.88 to 1.05) early infant mortality; 0.99 (0.84 to 1.18) late infant mortality; 1.03 (0.92 to 1.16) infection-specific infant mortality. There was no evidence of modification of the effect of vitamin A supplementation on infant mortality by sex (Wald statistic =0.07, p=0.80) or season (Wald statistic =0.03, p=0.86). Conclusions This is the largest analysis of cause of infant deaths from Africa to date. Weekly vitamin A supplementation in women of reproductive age has no beneficial or deleterious effect on the causes of infant death to age 6 or 12 months in rural Ghana.
Item Type: | Article |
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Date Type: | Publication |
Status: | Published |
Schools: | Medicine |
Subjects: | R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics |
Additional Information: | Pdf uploaded in accordance with publisher's policy at http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/2044-6055/ (accessed 27/02/2014) |
Publisher: | British Medical Journal Publishing Group |
ISSN: | 2044-6055 |
Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 30 March 2016 |
Last Modified: | 07 May 2023 18:09 |
URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/42479 |
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